Telephone attachment



NOV. 3, 1959 1 s H RRls 2,911,485

TELEPHONE ATTACHMENT Filed June 15, 1956 Leon 5. Harris INVENTOR.

ited States ice The present invention relates generally to desk or handset telephones and for its primary object to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, an attachment for such instruments which willserve the triple purposes of a holder for the receiver-transmitter whenit off its cradle, as an ash receptacle and as an advertising medium.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a multiplepurpose attachment of the aforementioned character which may beexpeditiously mounted for use on various makes of desk telephoneswithout altering the instrument in any manner or resorting to the use ofbolts, screws or other extraneous securing elements.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a telephone attachment ofthe character described which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, attractive inappearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telephone equipped with anattachment embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view principally in vertically longitudinal section; i

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section through the device, takensubstantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modification.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that referencecharacter 5 designates generally a conventional telephone of the desk orhand set type. The instrument 5 includes the usual base 6 comprising acradle 7 for the reception of a receiver-transmitter 8. Extending intothe back 9 of the base 6 beneath the cradle 7 is a hand chamber 11) tofacilitate lifting the instrument, the top 11 of said chamber beingprovided with the usual transversely extending, depending grip rib 12.

The embodiment of the presentinvention which has been illustrated inFigures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing comprises an elongated, substantiallyrectangular tray of metal, plastic or other suitable material which isdesignated generally by reference character 13. As shown to advantage inFigure 2 of the drawing, the.forward end portion of the tray 13 isinsertible in the chamber of the telephone base 6, said tray resting onthe usual raised portion 14 of the bottom 15 of said chamber.

The tray 13 includes a bottom 16 comprising upwardly curved front andrear end portions 17 and 18, respectively, together with side walls 19.The side walls 19 of the tray 13 are provided, on their upper, rear endportions, with out turned horizontal flanges 20 for receiving thereonand supporting the receiver transmitter 8 when it is removed from thecradle 7 of the instrument. The rear end portion 18 of the bottom 16 ofthe tray 13 terminates in an upwardly extending stop flange 21 for thereceiver-transmitter 8. If necessary, the forward portions of thereceiver-transmitter supporting flanges 20 may be reinforced bydepending lips or beads 22. The side walls 19- of the tray 13 includerelatively low or reduced forward end portions 23 having formed in theupper edges thereof notches or recesses 24 for the reception of the rib12 for anchoring said tray 13 in the chamber 10.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent from aconsideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the forward end portion of thetray 13 is inserted in the chamber 10 and engaged with the front wall 25of said chamber. The tray 13 is then seated and rocked on the portion 14of the chamber 10 for swinging the forward end portion of said trayupwardly in a manner to engage the rib 12 in one of the pairs of notchesor recesses 24. Thus, the tray 13 is firmly secured in position on theinstrument. The purpose of the multiple notches or recesses is toaccommodate the slightly differently located ribs 12on various makes oftelephones. Cigarette and cigar ashes, used matches, etc. may now bedeposited in the tray 13 in an obvious manner. The construction andarrangement is such that the tray 13 may be readily removed foremptying. When the telephone is in use the receiver-transmitter 8 may,if desired, be placed transversely on the protruding end portion of thetray 13 without breaking the circuit, said receiver-transmitter restingon the flanges 20 where it is retained by the flange 21. Any desiredadvertising or other matter may be placed on the elements 20 and 21 oron other portions of the device.

In the modification of Figure 4 of the drawing, reference character 26designates generally a tray comprising a bottom 27 and side walls 28.The forward portions of the side walls 28 have formed in the upper edgesthereof relatively large, single notches or recesses 29 of a size toaccommodate the differently located ribs 12 of different makes oftelephones. Extending laterally from the upper edges of the sidewalls 28on the rear or outer end portion of the tray 26, are horizontal flanges30 which are formed to provide transverse grooves or channelsconstituting cigarette and cigar rests 31. In other respects this formof the invention is substantially similar to the tray 13.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention-asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A combination ash receptacle and handset holder attachment for desktelephones of the type including a hand chamber extending thereinto fromthe rear thereof and a transverse rib depending from the top of thechamber, said attachment comprising an elongated, open tray mountedlongitudinally in the chamber and projecting rearwardly therefrom, saidtray including a bottom resting at an intermediate point on the bottomof the chamber and further including longitudinal side walls each havinga plurality of notches in the upper, forward edge portion thereof,engaged selectively with the rib,

' and out turned flanges extending horizontally from the 3 side wallsand the flanges and comprising lateral exten- D. 154,762 sions integralwith the rear ends of said flanges. D. 172,130

References Cited in the file of this patent' UNITED STATES PATENTS 5214881516 Stofer Apr. 27, 1948 2,614,177

41 Forkapa Aug. 9, 1949 Coulter May 11, 1954 Philips Oct. 25, 1955 ZemanDec. 20, 1938 Shore Nov. 15, 1949 Orms Oct. 14, 1949

